-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has called plans to build a community center and mosque near the site of the 9/11 terror attack in New York City an `` unnecessary provocation . ''

`` Peace-seeking Muslims , pls understand , Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation ; it stabs hearts , '' Palin wrote in a Twitter post Sunday . `` Pls reject it in interest of healing . ''

The former Republican vice presidential nominee also posted a plea asking `` peaceful New Yorkers '' to `` pls refute the Ground Zero mosque plan if you believe catastrophic pain caused @ Twin Towers site is too raw , too real . ''

Plans to build a $ 100 million , 13-story center have sparked an emotional debate .

The developer , Sharif El-Gamal , describes the project as an `` Islamic community center '' that will include a 500-seat performing arts center , a lecture hall , an exhibition space , a swimming pool , a gym , a culinary school , a restaurant and a prayer space for Muslims .

He said the project `` is not a mosque . '' Plans for the project have called for a prayer space where an imam would lead services . A `` mosque '' is generally considered a space where Muslims worship .

New York 's Landmarks Preservation Commission is scheduled to vote in August on whether an 1850s structure on the site of the proposed center should be granted landmark status . Even if the commission approves landmark status , though , that may not necessarily halt construction of the center .

Voices opposing the center dominated a hearing on the subject last week .

`` It would be a terrible mistake to destroy a 154-year-old building in order to build a monument to terrorism , '' one woman said .

The heckling and intense nature of the hearing got to be too much for some participants .

`` I 'm ashamed to be an American today , '' said Rakif Gathwari , a Muslim-American who reminded the crowd that people from many countries and religions died in the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11 , 2001 .

`` I want to prove to this hall that I am a citizen , '' Gathwari said , holding up his passport .

Some Muslim community leaders say the project could provide an opportunity for improving interfaith relations .

CNN 's Deb Feyerick , Julian Cummings , Ed Payne and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report

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Palin appeals to `` peace-seeking Muslims '' to stop center near Ground Zero

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She says the project `` stabs hearts '' at a time when pain is `` too raw '' and `` too real ''

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Backers of the project say it would help improve interfaith relations

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The project includes the construction of a $ 100 million , 13-story community center